Closure with hinged lid

ABSTRACT

A closure system is provided with a peripheral wall for extending from a container. A lid is molded with the peripheral wall as a unitary structure connected by a linear array of spaced-apart floppy hinge segments.

CROSS-REFERENCE-TO-RELATED APPLICATION(S)

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not applicable.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a closure system for a container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND TECHNICAL PROBLEMS POSED BY THE PRIOR ART

There are a variety of types of conventional closures. One type of prior art closure system includes a body for being attached to the top of a container. The body defines an opening to the container interior. The system further includes a lid which is hingedly mounted on the body and which can be lifted up to expose the opening to the container interior. The closure body to which the lid is attached may be alternatively described as the closure base or base portion.

For some types of products, it would be desirable to provide a relatively large closure with a hinged top or lid structure that could provide access to the product (such as fluent products, as well as non-fluent products), and that would optionally accommodate either the insertion of a utensil through the open closure to permit the product to be scooped out of the container with a spoon, knife, ladle, etc., or accommodate the insertion of a user's hand through the open closure so that the product can be lifted out by the user's hand.

For aesthetic reasons, it is preferable to have a closure wherein the walls of the closure adjacent the container do not deform or bend excessively when subjected to stresses imposed on the closure when the user opens or closes the hinged lid. It would be advantageous if an improved closure could be provided with a hinge for the lid wherein stresses imposed on the hinge and closure body during opening of the lid could be accommodated without causing objectionable bending or deformation of the closure wall.

It would also be beneficial if such an improved closure could provide a lid within a relatively large range of movement between a closed position and a fully opened position.

It would also be desirable if such an improved closure could accommodate containers which have a variety of shapes and which are constructed from a variety of materials.

Such an improved closure should also preferably accommodate ease of use.

Preferably, such an improved closure should also facilitate cleaning of the closure.

It would also be beneficial if an improved closure could readily accommodate its manufacture from a thermoplastic material.

Further, it would be desirable if such an improved closure could accommodate efficient, high-quality, high-speed, large volume manufacturing techniques with a reduced product reject rate to produce products having consistent operating characteristics unit-to-unit with high reliability.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention can be incorporated into a closure system that may include one or more of the above-discussed, desired features.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a closure system is provided for a container that has an interior where a product may be stored. The closure system includes a peripheral wall for extending from the container at an opening to the container interior, a lid, and a molded thermoplastic hinge structure. The hinge structure is unitary with the peripheral wall and with the lid for connecting the lid with the peripheral wall to accommodate movement of the lid between a closed position occluding the opening and an open position exposing the opening. The hinge structure includes a plurality of spaced-apart floppy hinge segments arranged along a straight line hinge axis to define a plurality of spaced-apart voids wherein each void is defined between two of the spaced-apart floppy hinge segments.

Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention, from the claims, and from the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings forming part of the specification, in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a closure system of the present invention as embodied in a closure for use on, or as part of, a container, and the closure is shown in a completely closed condition;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but FIG. 2 shows the first embodiment of the dispensing closure with the lid in an open position;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the open closure as removed from the container (or prior to installation on the container);

FIG. 4 is a greatly enlarged, cross-sectional view taken generally along the plane 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged, cross-sectional view taken generally along the plane 5-5 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the hinge structure portion of the closure system shown in FIG. 5

FIG. 7 is view similar to FIG. 6, but FIG. 7 shows the lid closed;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 6, but FIG. 8 shows a second embodiment of the hinge structure of the closure system of the present invention as embodied in a closure for use on, or as part of, a container; and

FIG. 9 is a view of the second embodiment hinge structure with the lid closed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, this specification and the accompanying drawings disclose only some specific forms as examples of the invention. The invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments so described, however. The scope of the invention is pointed out in the appended claims.

For ease of description, the closure system of this invention is described in a generally upright orientation that it could have at the upper end of a container when the container is stored upright on its base. It will be understood, however, that the closure system of this invention may be manufactured, stored, transported, used, and sold in orientations other than the position described.

The closure system of this invention is suitable for use with a variety of conventional or special containers having various designs, the details of which, although not illustrated or described, would be apparent to those having skill in the art and an understanding of such containers. With respect to the illustrated, preferred embodiments of the invention described herein, the container, per se, forms no part of, and therefore is not intended to limit, the broadest aspects of the present invention. It will also be understood by those of ordinary skill that novel and non-obvious inventive aspects can be embodied in the described exemplary closure system alone.

One presently preferred first embodiment of a closure system of the present invention is in the form of a closure illustrated in FIGS. 1-7 and is designated generally therein by reference number 30 in FIG. 1. The dispensing closure system 30, which is hereinafter sometimes referred to more simply as the “closure 30,” is initially provided as a separately manufactured article for mounting to the top of a container 32. It will be appreciated, however, that in some applications it may be desirable for the dispensing closure 30 to be formed as a unitary part, or extension, of the container 32 wherein the unitary part or extension defines a dispensing end structure of the container, per se.

The container 32 typically has a conventional mouth 33 (FIG. 2) which provides access to the container interior and product contained therein. The product may be, for example, mayonnaise, nuts, candies, crackers, cookies, jelly, margarine, paste, etc., which can be removed by hand or which can be scooped out or ladled out of a container with a spoon, knife, ladle, etc. The product may also be a more highly fluent material that can be poured, as well as scooped out, or ladled out, such as ground coffee, sugar, or other material, such as liquids, powders, slurries, etc. Such materials may be sold, for example, as a food product, a personal care product, an industrial or household product, or other composition (e.g., for internal or external use by humans or animals, or for use in activities involving medicine, manufacturing, commercial or household maintenance, construction, agriculture, etc.).

The container 32 typically may have a neck or other suitable structure defining the container mouth having a cross-sectional configuration with which the closure 30 is adapted to engage. The body of the container 32 may have another cross-sectional configuration that differs from the cross-sectional configuration of the container mouth. The container 32 may, on the other hand, have a substantially uniform shape along its entire length or height without any neck portion of reduced size or different cross-section.

The container 32 may or may not be a squeezable container having a flexible wall or walls which can be grasped by the user and compressed somewhat. However, the preferred, illustrated embodiments of the closure 30 are especially suitable for use with a container 32 that has substantially inflexible walls that are not necessarily intended to be squeezed by the user.

As shown in FIG. 5 for the first embodiment, the preferred structure of the closure 30 comprises a base or body 34, and a top or lid 36 joined to the base or body 34 by a unique hinge structure or hinge structure or hinge 40. In the preferred, first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-7, the closure body 34, lid 36, and hinge structure or hinge 40 are molded together as a unitary structure from a suitable thermoplastic material such as polypropylene or the like. Other materials may be employed instead.

In other contemplated embodiments, the closure 30 need not be an article that is completely separate from the container 32. Instead, the container 32 could be made with a dispensing end structure that incorporates the closure 30 as a unitary part of the container 32. In such an alternative, the illustrated first embodiment closure 30 could be modified so that it is formed as a unitary extension of the container 32, and the extending portion defining the body 34 could then be characterized as a structural feature that functions to accommodate communication with the container interior.

In either of the above-discussed alternatives (i.e., a separate closure or a closure molded (or otherwise formed) as an extension of a container 32), the hinge 40 extends from a portion of the body 34 near the container opening, and the portion of the closure body structure at the container opening to which the hinge 40 is attached may be described as a “peripheral wall” 42 (FIG. 5). The peripheral wall 42 need not extend completely around the entire periphery of the closure body 34 or container 32. Rather, the wall 42 may functionally exist as only a small part of the closure body 34, and the wall 42 need be of sufficient size only to accommodate the attachment of the lid 36 with the hinge 40. That is, the peripheral wall 42 per se may exist only at the rear of the closure body 34 adjacent the hinge 40.

In either of the above-discussed alternatives (i.e., either a separate closure or a closure molded (or otherwise formed) as an extension of a container 32), the container 32 may have an initially open bottom end opposite the dispensing end on which the closure 30 is located, and such a bottom end could be used for accommodating the filling of the inverted container with the product to be dispensed. After the inverted container is filled with the product through the open bottom end of the container, the open bottom end of the container could be closed by suitable means, such as by a separate bottom end closure which could be attached to the container bottom end (e.g., through a suitable threaded engagement, snap-fit engagement, adhesive engagement, thermal bonding engagement, etc.). Alternatively, such an open bottom end of the container could be deformed closed (e.g., with an appropriate process applying heat and force if the container bottom end portion is made from a thermoplastic material or other material that would accommodate the use of such a process).

In the illustrated first embodiment, wherein the closure 30 is initially molded as a completely separate article that is subsequently attached to the container 32, the closure body 34 preferably has a depending skirt 44 (FIG. 5) with a conventional, segmented, internal bead 46 for snap-fit engagement either with an adjacent bead on the neck of the container 32, or with a groove on the neck of the container, so as to secure the closure body 34 to the container. If desired, the bead 46 could be continuous instead of segmented. The skirt 44 includes at least part of the peripheral wall 42. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the peripheral wall 42 includes the rear part of the closure body 34 where the hinge 40 is located, and the peripheral wall 42 may be characterized as including at least the rear portion of the closure body skirt 44 at and below the hinge 40.

The closure body 34 and container 32, if they have circular configurations, could also be releasably connected together with a screw thread system (not shown), or by other means. Alternatively, the closure body 34 may be permanently attached to the container 32 by means of induction bonding, ultrasonic bonding, gluing, or the like, depending upon the materials employed for the container and closure body 34.

The interior of the body 34 may also include special or conventional seal features to provide an enhanced leak-tight seal between the closure body 34 and the container 32. The illustrated snap-fit closure body 34 does not employ such an enhanced seal feature.

The illustrated preferred, first form of the closure body 34 has an inwardly extending flange of rim 48 (FIG. 5). As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the body 32 has an exterior peripheral shoulder 50 below the rim 48 in the upper portion of the skirt 44. As can be seen in FIG. 5 at the inside of the shoulder 50, the closure body 32 has a generally upwardly extending, vertically oriented neck or sidewall 52. There is a very small, peripheral latch bead 54 (FIGS. 4 and 6) which is located on the periphery of the sidewall 52 and projects laterally outwardly from the sidewall 52 at an elevation above the shoulder 50. However, the latch bead 54 does not extend all the way around the back of the closure body over the hinge 40. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the latch bead 54 stops at each end of the hinge 40.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, a finger tab or thumb tab 56 projects laterally outwardly from the closure body skirt 44 at the same elevation as the closure body peripheral shoulder 50. This can facilitate removal of the entire closure 30 from the container 32 when that is desired.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the closure body 34 has an opening 60 defined by the rim 48. The opening 60 is adapted to be covered by the lid 36.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the lid 36 includes a top deck or cover 64 surrounded by a peripheral flange 66 having an end surface 68 for being received on the closure body shoulder 50 when the lid 36 is closed. The front of the lid 36 includes a latch 70. With reference to FIG. 2, the front of the closure body 34 includes an outwardly projecting cleat or tab 72 for engaging the lid latch 70 when the lid 36 is closed. To this end, the lid latch 70 defines an aperture for receiving a portion of the closure body cleat 72 when the lid 36 is closed. The latch 70 and cleat 72 are sufficiently flexible to accommodate an initial, temporary, elastic deformation of the latch 70 and/or cleat 72 as the lid 36 is closed so as to accommodate the positioning of the front of the latch 70 below the closure body cleat 72 (as shown in FIG. 1). To open the lid 36, the user pushes with a thumb or finger upwardly on the bottom of the latch 70. Other conventional or special latch designs could be used instead.

With reference to FIG. 4, the closure 30 is a molded thermoplastic hinge structure 40 that is unitary with the closure body peripheral wall 42 and with the lid 36 so as to accommodate movement of the lid 36 between the open position (FIG. 2) exposing the opening 60, and the closed position (FIGS. 1 and 4) occluding the opening 60. The hinge 40 includes a plurality of spaced-apart floppy hinge segments 81, 82, and 83 which define spaced-apart voids—void 86 and void 88 (FIG. 4).

In the preferred embodiment, there are three hinge segments 81, 82, and 83, and there are two voids 86 and 88 arranged along a straight line hinge axis. In FIG. 4, the lengths of the floppy hinge segments 81, 82, and 83 are designated L₁, L₃, and L₅, respectively. In FIG. 4, the lengths of the voids 86 and 88 between the floppy hinge segments are designated L₂ and L₄, respectively.

In the preferred embodiment, the lengths of the spaced-apart floppy hinge segments 81, 82, and 83 are uniform and equal. In the preferred embodiment, the lengths of the spaced-apart voids 86 and 88 are uniform and equal. In the most preferred embodiment, the lengths of the floppy hinge segments and voids are all equal. In the presently preferred embodiment, each length L₁, L₂, L₃, L₄, and L₅ is 0.4 inch. In the preferred embodiment, the spaced-apart voids 86 and 88 have a cumulative length (i.e., L₂ plus L₄) which is about 40% or more of the hinge structure total length (i.e., L₁ plus L₃ plus L₅).

With reference to FIG. 6, it can be seen that the closure body shoulder 50 defines a flat surface adjacent the floppy hinge segment 82 and the other hinge segments 81 and 83. Similarly, the lid end surface 68 defines a flat surface adjacent the floppy hinge segment 82 and the other hinge segments 81 and 83. A tapered surface 92 extends from the shoulder 50 to each of the floppy hinge segments. Similarly, a tapered surface 94 extends from the lid end surface 68 to each of the floppy hinge segments. The tapered surface 92, in the preferred embodiment, is defined by a small, convex, upper radius adjacent the shoulder 50 and is defined by a small, concave, lower radius adjacent the hinge segment. Similarly, the tapered surface 94 is defined by a small, convex, upper radius adjacent the closure lid end surface 68, and is defined by a small, concave, lower radius adjacent the hinge segment.

In the preferred embodiment, each floppy hinge segment, such as the floppy hinge segment 82 illustrated in FIG. 6, has a width or span W₁ defined between the lower ends of the tapered surfaces 92 and 94. In the preferred embodiment, the width W₁ is about 0.48 inch.

As can be seen in FIG. 6, on the exterior of the hinge segment 82 (and on the exterior of the other two hinge segments 81 and 83), the adjacent portion of the lid skirt 66 near the end surface 68 is thicker than the rest of the skirt 66. The depth of the thicker portion is indicated in FIG. 6 as D₁. The transition from the thicker portion to the thinner portion is defined by a radius R. In the preferred embodiment, the radius R is about 0.01 inch. The closure body 34 has a similar feature with the same radius R, and in the preferred embodiment, that radius the on the closure body 34 is the same as on the radius R on the closure lid 36.

With reference to FIG. 6, when the lid 36 is opened 180 degrees, the space below the floppy hinge segments (e.g., segment 82 in FIG. 6) is defined between two generally vertical surfaces—surface 96 on the closure body 34 and surface 98 on the closure lid 36. The surface 96 is perpendicular to the shoulder surface 50, and the surface 98 is perpendicular to the lid end surface 68. The distance between the surfaces 96 and 98, when the lid is opened 180 degrees as shown in FIG. 6, is designated by W₂ in FIG. 6. In the preferred embodiment, W₂ is about 0.06 inch.

With reference to FIG. 6, when the lid 36 is in the 180 degree opened position, each floppy hinge segment (e.g., segment 82 shown in FIG. 6) has a flat upper surface (which is the “interior” surface of the hinge when the lid 36 is closed), and that flat surface is recessed a distance D₂ from the adjacent closure body shoulder 50 and from the closure lid end surface 68. In the preferred embodiment, the recess depth D₂ is about 0.003 inch.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the thickness of each hinge segment is designated D₃, and D₃ is preferably about 0.008 inch anywhere across the hinge width or span W₁ In the presently preferred embodiment, the ratio of the hinge width W₁ to the hinge thickness D₃ is about 6.

It has been found that the novel hinge structure of the present invention substantially minimizes, if not eliminates, undesired deformation of the closure body adjacent the hinge 40 as the lid 36 is closed onto the closure body 34. In particular, it has been found that the hinge 40 of the present invention minimizes, if not eliminates, outward flaring or bending of the closure body skirt 44 on the rear of the closure body adjacent the hinge. It is believed that the hinge 40 of the present invention permits the motion of the lid 36 to be more independent from, or less dependent on, the closure body 34. It is believed that with the hinge 40 of the present invention, the closure body wall adjacent the hinge is subjected to lower stresses when the lid 36 is opened and closed.

A modified form of the hinge structure 40A of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 for a closure 30A which has a closure body 34A and a closure lid 36A. The configuration of the closure body 34A and closure lid 36A is substantially similar to the closure body 34 and lid 36, respectively, described above with reference to the first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-7. The closure body 34A is connected to the closure lid 36A with a hinge structure that includes a plurality of spaced-apart floppy hinge segments, such as hinge segment 82A illustrated in FIG. 8. In the preferred second embodiment, there are three such floppy hinge segments and two void spaces having an identical configuration to that illustrated in FIG. 4 for the first embodiment of the hinge 40 described above.

In the second embodiment, each of the hinge segments, such as hinge segment 82A shown in FIG. 8, has an interior, upper flat surface which is recessed below the adjacent flat surfaces of the closure body 34A and closure lid 36A in the same manner as discussed above with respect to the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6. In the second embodiment, the dimensions of the hinge and adjacent structure are identical with the preferred dimensions W₁, W₂, and D₁ and D₂ described above for the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6.

The second embodiment of the hinge 40A illustrated in FIG. 8 differs from the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6 in that, when the second embodiment lid 36A is in the 180 degree opened position as shown in FIG. 8, the exterior side (underside) of the hinge 40A has an arched or arcuate shape having a radius R_(A) of about 0.03 inch. At the very center of the width of the hinge 40A, each hinge segment (such as segment 82A illustrated in FIG. 8) has a minimum thickness D_(A). In the preferred embodiment, the minimum thickness DA is about 0.008 inch.

As the lid 36A is moved to the fully closed position (FIG. 9), there is little or no deformation or movement of the closure body 34A below the hinge.

It will be readily apparent from the foregoing detailed description of the invention and from the illustrations thereof that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts or principles of this invention. 

1. A closure system for a container that has an interior where a product may be stored, said closure system comprising: (A) a peripheral wall for extending from said container at an opening to the container interior; (B) a lid; and (C) a molded thermoplastic hinge structure that is unitary with said peripheral wall and with said lid for connecting said lid with said peripheral wall to accommodate movement of said lid between a closed position occluding said opening and an open position exposing said opening, said hinge structure including a plurality of spaced-apart floppy hinge segments arranged along a straight line hinge axis to define a plurality of spaced-apart voids wherein each void is defined between two of said spaced-apart floppy hinge segments.
 2. The system in accordance with claim 1 in which said system is a closure for a container that has a container opening to said container interior; said closure is separate from, but releasably attachable to, said container around said container opening; and said closure has a body that (1) has a body opening for communicating with said container opening, and (2) is defined at least in part by said peripheral wall adjacent said body opening.
 3. The system in accordance with claim 1 in which there are three of said spaced-apart floppy hinge segments.
 4. The system in accordance with claim 1 in which said system is a closure for a container that has a container opening to said container interior; said closure is separate from, but releasably attachable to, said container around said container opening; said closure has a body that has a body opening for communicating with said container opening; said closure body has a skirt around said closure body opening; said skirt is adapted to engage said container around said container opening, and a portion of said skirt defines at least a portion of said peripheral wall to which said hinge structure connects said lid.
 5. The system in accordance with claim 4 in which said lid has a peripheral flange for said closure body when said lid is in said closed position.
 6. The system in accordance with claim 5 in which said peripheral flange of said lid has a laterally extending latch bead; and said closure body skirt has a laterally extending latch bead for engaging said latch bead on said lid peripheral flange.
 7. The system in accordance with claim 4 in which said closure body includes a lift tab projecting laterally beyond said lid when said lid is closed.
 8. The system in accordance with claim 1 in which said lid includes a lift tab projecting laterally.
 9. The system in accordance with claim 1 in which said hinge structure includes two of said voids.
 10. The system in accordance with claim 1 in which said hinge structure has a first end defined by an outer end of a first one of said floppy hinge segments; said floppy hinge structure has a second end defined by an outer end of a last one of said hinge segments; said hinge structure has a total length as measured along said hinge axis from said first end to said second end; and said spaced-apart voids have a cumulative length along said hinge structure that is about 40% or more of said total length of said hinge structure.
 11. The system in accordance with claim 1 in which each said spaced-apart void has a length as measured along said hinge axis; each said spaced-apart floppy hinge segment has a length as measured along said hinge axis; and the lengths of said spaced-apart voids and the lengths of said spaced-apart floppy hinge segments are uniform and equal.
 12. The system in accordance with claim 1 in which each said floppy hinge segment has a width measured perpendicular to said hinge axis; and each said floppy hinge segment has a minimum thickness at the center of the width of the hinge segment.
 13. The system in accordance with claim 12 in which said width is about 0.048 inch and said minimum thickness is about 0.008 inch.
 14. The system in accordance with claim 12 in which the ratio of the floppy hinge segment width to the floppy hinge segment thickness is about
 6. 15. The system in accordance with claim 1 in which said peripheral wall defines a flat surface adjacent each said floppy hinge segment; said lid defines a flat surface adjacent each said floppy hinge segment; a tapered surface extends from said lid flat surface to each said floppy hinge segment; a tapered surface extends from said peripheral wall flat surface to each said floppy hinge segment; each said floppy hinge segment defines an interior surface which has a folded over configuration when said lid is fully closed; and when said lid is opened to a position 180 degrees from said fully closed position, said interior surface of each said floppy hinge segment is generally planar and is recessed from said lid flat surface and from said peripheral wall flat surface.
 16. The system in accordance with claim 15 in which said interior surface is recessed about 0.003 inch.
 17. The system in accordance with claim 1 in which each said floppy hinge segment has a uniform thickness.
 18. The system in accordance with claim 1 in which each said floppy hinge segment defines an exposed exterior surface that (1) has a convex arcuate configuration when said lid is fully closed, and (2) has a concave arcuate configuration when said lid is opened to a position 180 degrees from the fully closed position. 